Grindstone Pile Burn Planned for Indian Canyon Unit and South Fork Campground

District Fire personnel plan to burn a 65 acre pile unit between Grindstone and Mescalero Lakes in Indian Canyon between October 1 and 5, 2018, weather permitting. Fire personnel will also look into another small unit in South Fork Campground area. The unit has a lot of green grass, and with forecasted weather conditions no issues are expected with safety, smoke or fire control.

• Unit: 65 acres of hard piled slash.

• Dates of Ignition: 10/01/18 to 10/05/18

• Location: Between Grindstone and Mescalero lakes west of Carrizo Canyon Road.

• Updates: www.nmfireinfo.com

The purpose of these projects is to reduce hazardous fuels following thinning and fuelwood removal activities. Reducing hazardous fuels will help reduce the threat of high severity, high-intensity wildfire to the public, adjacent private property and natural resources in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) area that surrounds the communities of White Oaks and Ruidoso. Treatments will help fire managers re-introduce fire into a fire-adapted ecosystem, thus improving forest health, forest resiliency and wildlife habitat.

Smoke may be visible from most communities in Lincoln County and Mescalero.

Prescribed fires are one of the most effective tools available to resource managers for restoring fire-adapted ecosystems. These fires mimic natural fires by reducing forest fuels, recycling nutrients and increasing habitat diversity. Prescribed fires are managed with firefighter and public safety as the first priority.

Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the New Mexico DOH website at https://nmtracking.org/fire.

For prescribed fire updates, visit:  www.nmfireinfo.com.  For additional information, contact the Lincoln National Forest Public Affairs Officer at 575-434-7290.

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